v Hull City (h) - 31/1/26

[Paul Mani]

For me it’s….

                           Toth

Alebiosu  O’riordan  McLaughlin. Cashin

                 Sonny.       Baradji

jorgensen.        Cantwell         Morishita

                           Ohashi

Subs - Michalski, Miller, Carter, Pickering, Forshaw, Montgomery, TGH, Doherty, Henriksson, Gudjohnson.

Start on the front foot. Though we don’t have many attacking options in those wide areas.

[MarkBRFC]

Wouldn't bother today, no way is the game finishing....

 

[RoversTilliDie]

6 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

For me it’s….

                           Toth

Alebiosu  O’riordan  McLaughlin. Cashin

                 Sonny.       Baradji

jorgensen.        Cantwell         Morishita

                           Ohashi

Subs - Michalski, Miller, Carter, Pickering, Forshaw, Montgomery, TGH, Doherty, Henriksson, Gudjohnson.

Start on the front foot. Though we don’t have many attacking options in those wide areas.

I've a feeling, Gudjohnsen, and Jorgensen, could put together a decent partnership.

[...]

Interested to see how Gudjohnsen and Jorgenson pair up 

[K-Hod]

Real shame about Pratt and his injury- I’d so much sooner have him in than McLoughlin tbh.

Cashin was fine in the last game, but in an ideal world he’d play in his real position at centre back and not left back, but despite us having two left backs available, they aren’t selected for whatever reason.

[Mercer]

1 hour ago, K-Hod said:

Real shame about Pratt and his injury- I’d so much sooner have him in than McLoughlin tbh.

Cashin was fine in the last game, but in an ideal world he’d play in his real position at centre back and not left back, but despite us having two left backs available, they aren’t selected for whatever reason.

If Ismael hadn't fecked the lad about, he'd still be playing in the 1st team and wouldn't have picked up the injury in an Academy game.  I think the way Rovers have treated the lad after an excellent start to 1st team football is diabolical.

[Mercer]

Not an easy one to call.

Hull a form team playing with some momentum and confidence.

On the other hand, Rovers due a home win but struggling with their ragtag bobtail team.

If I was betting on this one, and I'm not, would go for Hull win.

[joey_big_nose]

On 30/01/2026 at 10:25, roversfan99 said:

I think our squad or at least numerous important players are more suited to a 352 personally although the squad isnt well built for either.

You look out wide, Morishita isnt as effective wide. Jorgensen doesnt look quick enough wide although early days. And we dont have any alternatives there. Our width comes from Alebiosu who is freed up as a wing back.

The centre backs arent good enough to not need a third player back there. Miller is fine right side of a back 3, within a pairing there are far bigger doubts. It also makes the Cashin signing stranger if we just plan to go to a back 4 with him at left back, out of position.

And up front, the plan is seemingly to have 4 forwards for 2 positions. As mentioned, Gudjohnsen (and even the below average Ohashi) seem to be more effective in a front 2.

Agreed... we've got into a real mismash where some players suit 352 more, and some 4231, and we look very confused all over the place. 

In October we looked reasonably settled, and while we were obviously going to have a bad season there was enough there to stay up. But the injuries (very predictable...) and the absolutely crazy transfer window (why sign another left back who can't play left wing back when we don't have a fit lwb or left wing? why sign a striker who plays in a front three? why sign no other players??) has really tipped us into looking odds on for relegation.

I can only hope it's enough for Venkys to decide to exit.

[joey_big_nose]

8 hours ago, Paul Mani said:

For me it’s….

                           Toth

Alebiosu  O’riordan  McLaughlin. Cashin

                 Sonny.       Baradji

jorgensen.        Cantwell         Morishita

                           Ohashi

Subs - Michalski, Miller, Carter, Pickering, Forshaw, Montgomery, TGH, Doherty, Henriksson, Gudjohnson.

Start on the front foot. Though we don’t have many attacking options in those wide areas.

That's the issue really.... I don't think we have ever been a situation where we have had so few wide players back to front. Only Alebiousu is more comfortable out wide than central of all 20 players on that squad. Even Pickering is a left back whose best game is coming inside to support the midfield, not overalapping and getting to the touchline. 

Really horrendous squad planning.

[Waggy76]

The problem is most of the players are sub standard to this league and the manager is incredibly inept!

Good footballers can play most systems, unfortunately they are few and far between, at Ewood Park.

I don't think we have the necessary intensity or fitness  to win , so a draw is probably the best we can hope for ! 

Which in the big scheme of things is not enough ! 

 

[harryhealless1928]

Expect another defeat.

The real issue is confidence, other than lack of quality.

Szmodics, Brereton-Diaz were really confidence players.

The current squad is having all "confidence" knocked out of them by a manager determined to follow the Venkys playbook.

Lets just hope some of the Academy lads are good enough for League I.

 

The main positive is NOT having to(probably)play the Dingles next season.

Grim times indeed- Charles Dickens "Bleak House",anyone?

[RevidgeBlue]

18 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

I don't think we have the necessary intensity or fitness  to win , so a draw is probably the best we can hope for ! 

Which in the big scheme of things is not enough ! 

Yeah, feel the same, we MIGHT get a point which in the general scheme of things isnt enough.

We need wins which we can't get under this bloke.

[RoversTilliDie]

2 hours ago, K-Hod said:

Real shame about Pratt and his injury- I’d so much sooner have him in than McLoughlin tbh.

Cashin was fine in the last game, but in an ideal world he’d play in his real position at centre back and not left back, but despite us having two left backs available, they aren’t selected for whatever reason.

Its because Ismael is clueless on tactics. Were at home today, probably be 5 at the back, Ismaels tactics 

[XLM]

For me it’s….

                           Toth

  Alebiosu    Miller   Cashin  Pickering

             Tronstad       Baradji

    Jørgensen  Cantwell   Morishita

                         Ohashi

 

Or since Ismael doesn't seem to be able to coach a 4231...

                          Toth

          Miller   O'Riordan  Cashin

Alebiosu   Tronstad   Cantwell  Pickering

                       Morishita

             Jørgensen  Ohashi

 

Since there is zero chance we'll play either of our unspectacular but championship proven LBs (for whatever reason), swap Cashin to LB and McLoughlin to CB in the 4231. Or put De Neve in at LWB in the 352 and stick £50 on their RW to score.

[roversfan99]

I dont think that Pratt has been treated "diabolically."

He certainly has shown a lot of promise but he shouldnt be suddenly seen as a regular. He had performances were he did very admirably but also a few where he was subbed off before the end or he was less assured. Par for the course, and a game in the under 21s to keep fitness up made some sense to me. He really could do with a loan to League 1 or League 2 now we have numbers back at centre back. Im not convinced by the quality of our defenders but at this stage I dont see Pratt as being a stand out there either, and again nor should he be.

[Old Codger]

Hull. At home. Not long ago we'd have looked over at Hull and concluded that THEY were a team in crisis - transfer embargo, struggling for form, managerial merry-go round, blah blah bah bloody humbug..

Now, when we crane our necks to squint at the fortunes of both clubs, we are immediately assaulted by the stench of something whiffy coming from Ewood, and the collective confidence-boosting pong of prosperity emanating from the testosterone filled corridors of the MKM stadium.

Like lambs to the slaughter, the faithfull will tramp down Bolton Road and Livesey Branch Rd to witness a catalogue of orchestrated ineptitude unfold catastrophically and without apology from the tactical vasectomy (or is it lobotomy) that is our managerial melange, with players dry humping the opposition whilst being comprehensively bummed senseless in return by a Hull side riding high on confidence and coherence.

Of course the return of talismanic figures who actually know what the onion bag is for may galvanise our rabble into something akin to a response, but I fear that the gap between these two clubs' fortunes is more likely to be amplified than narrowed following today's badly drawn tactical shitfest. Just so you know, if I see that double barrelled arsehole holding out his hands in supplication once again in confused appeal following yet another of his unerringly misplaced 'passes', I may take the law into my own hands and call down the wrath of hellfire onto his shameless head.

 Can you tell I'm not feeling the vibe for this one?

Is it obvious that I'm leaning towards the inevitability of disappointment?

Is it there in my words that, despite it being an eminently winable fixture, my expectation is more that significantly loaded with an expectation of embarrassment?

I thought so. Thanks for stopping by.

Rovers ruin your Saturday (again) - BRFC 0 Tigers 2

Rain stops play - BRFC 1 Tigers 0 match abandoned due to crisp packets spontaneously combusting in the Blackburn End upper.

Righteous Rovers Rub Retributional Rottenness Round Riverside - BRFC 0 Hull City 5 (inspired by Derby and on point for Pasha the twatter).

VENKYS OUT!

SHOCKINGLY INEPT RUDE AND RECALCITRANT TEA BOY UPSTARTS OUT!

PASHA DO ONE!

but as ever, COYB!

[simongarnerisgod]

hull will be to organised and solid for us to get anything from this one,0-2 to hull,incidentally considering they were banned from signing anyone for a fee,it`s some coaching job to get them where they are,i`me not looking forwards to seeing mcburney ragdoll mcloughlin either😕

[Tomphil2]

Not long ago Hull were getting 10k and probably not even that in the ground and their followings here are similar to ours there, 500/1500 tops.

Today they are bringing 3k.

Things can turnaround but we've been in this doom loop 15 years now and it shows no signs of shifting. What i'd give to have just one season away from all this nonsense.

[LDRover]

At least a hundred of their likely lads in the Old Chapel and Bridgewater surrounded by the plod. It could get tasty later on.

[Tomphil2]

That's the flip side of these big city clubs when they hit a bit of form.

No sign of a following or the 'likely lads' when they are shit or just bobbling along. Bit of form and ambition and suddenly thousands turn up and up pops the mob handed gimps with their safety in numbers routine.

Pathetic.

[RevidgeBlue]

44 minutes ago, Old Codger said:

Hull. At home. Not long ago we'd have looked over at Hull and concluded that THEY were a team in crisis - transfer embargo, struggling for form, managerial merry-go round, blah blah bah bloody humbug..

Now, when we crane our necks to squint at the fortunes of both clubs, we are immediately assaulted by the stench of something whiffy coming from Ewood, and the collective confidence-boosting pong of prosperity emanating from the testosterone filled corridors of the MKM stadium.

Like lambs to the slaughter, the faithfull will tramp down Bolton Road and Livesey Branch Rd to witness a catalogue of orchestrated ineptitude unfold catastrophically and without apology from the tactical vasectomy (or is it lobotomy) that is our managerial melange, with players dry humping the opposition whilst being comprehensively bummed senseless in return by a Hull side riding high on confidence and coherence.

Of course the return of talismanic figures who actually know what the onion bag is for may galvanise our rabble into something akin to a response, but I fear that the gap between these two clubs' fortunes is more likely to be amplified than narrowed following today's badly drawn tactical shitfest. Just so you know, if I see that double barrelled arsehole holding out his hands in supplication once again in confused appeal following yet another of his unerringly misplaced 'passes', I may take the law into my own hands and call down the wrath of hellfire onto his shameless head.

 Can you tell I'm not feeling the vibe for this one?

Is it obvious that I'm leaning towards the inevitability of disappointment?

Is it there in my words that, despite it being an eminently winable fixture, my expectation is more that significantly loaded with an expectation of embarrassment?

I thought so. Thanks for stopping by.

Rovers ruin your Saturday (again) - BRFC 0 Tigers 2

Rain stops play - BRFC 1 Tigers 0 match abandoned due to crisp packets spontaneously combusting in the Blackburn End upper.

Righteous Rovers Rub Retributional Rottenness Round Riverside - BRFC 0 Hull City 5 (inspired by Derby and on point for Pasha the twatter).

VENKYS OUT!

SHOCKINGLY INEPT RUDE AND RECALCITRANT TEA BOY UPSTARTS OUT!

PASHA DO ONE!

but as ever, COYB!

Apart from that though, all good?

[Tom]

Charlton leading against 10 men, fail to win today and I think we’ve got 1 foot in league one 

[lraC]

2 hours ago, Mercer said:

Not an easy one to call.

Hull a form team playing with some momentum and confidence.

On the other hand, Rovers due a home win but struggling with their ragtag bobtail team.

If I was betting on this one, and I'm not, would go for Hull win.

I think it’s very easy to call.

Hulls recent away form is very good, our home form is horrendous and we have signed almost no one despite the usual drivel from within.

Hull nailed on and I would be very surprised if it’s not by at least a 2 goal margin.

 

Bookies say Thats 4/1  but that’s silly odds my odds on that would be around 4/5.

Hope Im wrong of course. 

[Eternal Optimist]

Not seen enough of him to throw out a proper opinion but Jorgensen playing out wide is giving me Sam Gallagher on the wing vibes 😬😬😬😬 scary thought

[duckson]

8 minutes ago, Tom said:

Charlton leading against 10 men, fail to win today and I think we’ve got 1 foot in league one 

2-0 now.